from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Cormorant \Cor"mo*rant\ (k[^o]r"m[-o]*rant), n. [F. cormoran,
fr. Armor. m[=o]r-vran a sea raven; m[=o]r sea + bran raven,
with cor, equiv. to L. corvus raven, pleonastically prefixed;
or perh. fr. L. corvus marinus sea raven.]
1. (Zool.) Any species of {Phalacrocorax}, a genus of sea
birds having a sac under the beak; the shag. Cormorants
devour fish voraciously, and have become the emblem of
gluttony. They are generally black, and hence are called
{sea ravens}, and {coalgeese}. [Written also {corvorant}.]
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2. A voracious eater; a glutton, or gluttonous servant. --B.
Jonson.
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